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Here in the Southern Highlands, there are plenty of places to enjoy a picnic. Check out our list of 10 of the best picnic spots in the Southern Highlands.

PLEASE NOTE: A number of alerts are in place in national parks in the area due to recent heavy rains, including closures of areas and entire parks in some cases. Please go to the alerts page and search for the park you wish to visit before setting off..

If you have ever wanted to enjoy a picnic while listening to the soothing sound of a waterfall, then Carrington Falls picnic area is for you.

You will find picnic areas and barbecue facilities, along with some short walking tracks leading you to no less than three great lookouts offering amazing views.

Located in Budderoo National Park, you can take your pick from a number of cascades, waterholes and rockpools, as well as Carrington Falls themselves, which plunge into the gully below.

The picnic area, which is also known as Thomas Place, is a great base if you wish to head off on one of the walking tracks taking you to Izzards lookout and beyond.

Enjoy a picnic lunch while looking out over the vibrant wildflowers and watch out for a lyrebird scratching in the undergrowth, or you might spot a swamp wallaby or long-nosed potoroo.

Details: Click here

Still in Budderoo National Park is Nellies Glen picnic area. It is a great place to relax and unwind, or you can use it as a base to explore the nearby swimming hole and waterfall.

Nellies Glen swimming hole can be approached via a creek, which is a lovely way to see it from above.

According to Bushwalk the Gong, it's a shallow pool which is great for swimming with young children, but not suitable for jumping into.

If you visit when the sun is high in the sky as you will see lovely blue and green tones in the water. Carefully make your way down to the pool from the top of the waterfall.

Children can explore the overhanging fern 'cave' and splash around the water's edge.

After a relaxing picnic under the shade of a magnificent eucalyptus forest, help the kids find brightly coloured fungi and orchids in the canopy. Check the forest floor for blue objects, which is a sign a male satin bower bird is trying to impress a lady.

You can explore nearby Missingham lookout or Warris Chair lookout via one of the walking tracks or head to Carrington Falls.

Details: Click here

Cecil Hoskins Nature Reserve is a great place for walking, picnicking, birdwatching and enjoying the tranquillity of this wetland area.

A Southern Highlands wetland sounds unlikely, but it does exist.

When Bong Bong weir was constructed in the 1920s to supply water to Moss Vale, a lagoon and swamp area formed at that part of Wingecarribee River.

Only 12 years later it was declared a wildlife sanctuary. Now, over 90 species of birds, a third of which are waterbirds, have made it their temporary or permanent home.

Whether you're keen on birdwatching or just looking for a peaceful place to enjoy walking and a quiet picnic, Cecil Hoskins Nature Reserve awaits you

Details: Click here

If you're keen for a hike and a picnic, then Echo Point Picnic Area in the Morton National Park is for you.

The Lovers Walk connects to the picnic area via a 750 metre stroll.

Beginning behind the Echo Point picnic shelter, the track blooms in spring with beautiful wildflowers like yellow banksia and purple geebungs.

It also offers a terrific place for native birdwatching at any time of year - gang gang cockatoos are particularly beautiful.

Given the picnic facilities at Echo Point, consider setting out on Lovers walking track after a leisurely lunch, and then taking advantage of several nearby walks to extend the afternoon hike even further.

After reaching Bonnie View, you can return to Echo Point via the gravel road and wishing well, stretching the circuit out to an hour.

Details: Click here

When you pull up at Fitzroy Falls picnic area, you'll hear the waterfalls before you see them.

It's a short walk to the spectacular Fitzroy Falls, where water plummets over 80m to the deep rainforest ravine below and the views across the escarpment are not to be missed.

As you're sparking up the barbecue or unpacking the picnic, you might see one of the resident lyrebirds or an inquisitive swamp wallaby.

Green catbirds and eastern whipbirds live in the surrounding bushland, so keep an ear out for their distinctive calls. Look for the iconic waratah, the state flower of NSW, with its long stem and vibrant red flower in spring.

If you feel like stretching your legs, try the West Rim walking track or if you're visiting in spring don't miss the East Rim wildflower walk.

Details: Click here.

Nestled in Bowral, the Southern Highlands Botanic Garden has been designed by landscape architects Taylor Cullitty Lethlean as a journey through the Southern Highlands.

The journey starts on arrival and the visitor's centre, then leads out to the 'Town' garden of intricate garden beds closely planted.

The meadow garden, representing the outer urban and farm areas of the highlands, is park like with widley spaced trees and ample lawns, surrounded by a backdrop of tall gum trees.

The eastern precinct of the garden will be developed as a natural garden, representing the vast National Parks and native vegetated areas of the Highlands.

A picnic area is located within the Botanic Garden and there are plenty of events happening in the garden too.

Details: Click here

Wingecarribee Reservoir is about 10 kilometres south-east of Bowral on the Wingecarribee River.

It's unique for the ancient peat swamp immediately upstream of the reservoir, which is a habitat for several endangered species.

From the picnic grounds enjoy scenic rural views and views of the nearby reservoir and Wingecarribee Swamp in the distance.

Details: Click here

Grab your picnic blankets and baskets, Lake Alexandra is the perfect place in the Highlands for picnic.

A park land reserve surrounds the lake and aquatic birdlife lives in profusion on the water and shores. Barbecue facilities and shelter sheds are available.

The whole area has been revamped and renovated. Lake Alexandra has a fantastic picnic and children's play area. There is also, a Liberty swing for the disabled - key required for access.

Details: Click here

Corbett Gardens in Bowral is the showpiece of the Tulip Time Festival and dates back to 1911 when, at Mrs Ada Corbett's suggestion, the local tourist association purchased Deadmans Paddock for a public park.

Corbett Gardens in Bowral, one of the region's oldest and most beautiful parks and is free to the public, with Tulip Time as the only exception.

Not only is there a pavillion for shade, but there are multiple leafy trees ready for you to put a blanket under and enjoy the sunshine.

Details: Click here.

Located between Kiama and Nowra is Seven Mile beach. It is part of the Seven Mile Beach National Park which extends from Shoalhaven Heads to Gerroa.

The small coastal park offers a great day out for the whole family thanks to activities including fishing, swimming, picnicking and walking.

There are picnic areas at either end of the beach, including Beach Road picnic area.

The picnic area is also the starting point of two sand tracks, known as north track and south track.

The south track takes you through an ancient and untouched forest of majestic blackbutt trees, rare bangalay sand forest and littoral rainforest before you emerge in the middle of Seven Mile Beach, halfway between Gerroa and Shoalhaven Heads, while the north track meanders north through dune blackbutt, bangalay forests and a littoral rainforest where you can spot birds including thornbills, wrens, honeyeaters and the brown cuckoo dove.

Details: Click here

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